is lively, energetic and even fun. “Fun” is what most of these movies aspire to be: They’re carnival rides built to entertain , uniting audiences in shared terrified delight. But that funhouse energy fluctuates in each entry. Their common flaw is inconsistency.
remains a hoot from start to finish, in part thanks to the joys of variety and in part because it pulls a fast one by reintroducing Patrick Wilson and, once again playing famed demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, before quickly ushering them out of the picture. For the early going, it’s assumed that the story belongs to them, that they’ll do as the Warrens usually do and stumble upon supernatural shenanigans, and that they’ll send evil packing.
But Gary Dauberman, stepping into the role of director after writing screenplays for just about everyspin-off project, pivots focus to Judy Warren , Ed and Lorraine’s daughter, who’s a good deal more compelling as a protagonist than her folks this many movies into the franchise.
Unsurprisingly, a freaky, lonely life. No one gets to hang out at Judy’s home because her classmates’ concerned parents don’t want their kids associating with exorcists, so for the poor girl’s upcoming birthday, the attendees list includes her parents and her babysitter, Mary Ellen . The silver lining is that Mary Ellen’s a pretty rad sitter, but before festivities, Ed and Lorraine leave for an overnight, putting Mary Ellen and her ghost-obsessed tag-along BFF, Daniela , in charge.
And in all shapes and sizes! There’s a haunted TV, a haunted wedding dress, haunted samurai armor, a haunted cymbal-banging monkey toy, and of course there’s Annabelle, everyone’s favorite haunted doll. There’s a robed ghost with coins covering its eyes, and there’s even a werewolf, because if Dauberman is going to throw the whole kitchen sink at viewers, he might as well jam a werewolf in that sink, too.